Twins-Brewers Preview

The Twins, however, have not enjoyed much success against Gallardo at Miller Park.

Minnesota hopes that changes Tuesday night after a disappointing offensive performance in the opener.

The Twins (26-29) stranded nine men in Monday's 6-2 loss, going 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position. The runs came from infield singles by Josh Willingham in the eighth inning and Brian Dozier in the ninth.

"We had chances and just couldn't come up with the big hit," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We missed a few plays, but more than anything else, you still feel like you've got a chance."

Mauer doubled twice -- moving past former teammate Justin Morneau for fifth place on the Twins' all-time list with 290 for his career. However, he struck out with men on second and third to end the fifth.

He still owns an OPS of 1.117 over his last 27 games against Milwaukee with 23 runs scored, and is 5 for 10 off Gallardo.

Dozier, who came in 3 for 36 over his last nine games, also doubled Monday. He's 17 for 51 while hitting safely in all 11 career matchups with the Brewers and is 2 for 4 against Gallardo. Trevor Plouffe has homered twice in five at-bats versus Gallardo, while Willingham is 3 for 10 with a home run against the right-hander and is batting .377 in his last 14 games at Miller Park.

However, Gallardo (3-3, 3.56 ERA) has been stellar against Minnesota in Milwaukee, going 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA in three starts.

Gallardo ended an eight-start winless streak Wednesday, allowing three runs and four hits with a season-high five walks over 6 2/3 innings in an 8-3 victory over Baltimore. Two of the runs came on homers from Nelson Cruz. He has allowed six homers over his last four starts spanning 22 innings and is giving up a career-worst 1.2 home runs per nine innings.

Gallardo's winless stretch wasn't entirely his fault as his run support average of 2.88 is one of the worst in baseball. The four runs he received Wednesday were a season high.

He will have a tough act to follow after Matt Garza struck out eight over 6 1/3 scoreless innings against his first big league team.

Milwaukee (35-23) has won five of six and has scored at least six runs in seven of eight.

Minnesota looks for just its third win in 10 interleague games this year as it sends Samuel Deduno (1-3, 3.86) to the mound. Deduno, 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in five starts, was charged with season highs of four earned runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 5-4 loss to Texas on Thursday, though he didn't receive a decision.

"I think the team gave me a chance to win the game with four runs, but I gave up four runs. I have to be better," he told the team's official website. "I know I have to be better."

Deduno won his lone matchup with the Brewers, limiting them to a run and four hits over seven innings in a 4-1 victory on May 29, 2013.

Milwaukee's Mark Reynolds, who hit his team-leading 13th homer Monday, has five home runs over his last 10 interleague games.

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy also homered and is batting .393 in his last 14 contests.

These clubs will reconvene in Minneapolis for two more games Wednesday and Thursday.